WDK Order of Light is my second novel, which was released at the beginning of this year. It’s book two of the New Blood series, which started with Crown Prince.
AW What first got you into writing and why?
WDK For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a writing and telling stories. Before I learned how to write, I would draw pictures of spaceships, then act out the battles, drawing in the laser blasts and explosions after erasing parts of the ships that were blown away by enemies. I’ve blown up the U.S.S. Enterprise 10,000 times. After learning to write, I had my first poem published at the age of 9 and was first hired to write professionally at 15. I originally wanted to be a cartoonist and start my own line of comic books. That was my dream until I wrote my first book, when I was 12.
As far as the “why,” I would guess that it was a way to get positive attention. I remember my mom being supportive of my stories at a young age. For example, when I was not even school age, I asked her to feel my head because I was pretty sure that I was growing horns. She felt my head with both hands and said, “Yep, I can feel them!” When I went back again, she said she was sure they were bigger than the last time, and so on. Another example is when I was a teenager, I wanted to enter a novel competition for teens, but was having a hard time typing my hand-written manuscript on our old typewriter. So my dad paid a secretary at his work to type it for me. After, he read the manuscript and wrote notes about things in the margins that he thought were good or needed editing. I can still remember the feeling of accomplishment I had when there was a one-word pencil-written comment after a scene: “Good.” I received honorable mention in the competition and that gave me a sense of validation that I really did have some talent.
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| Bill's first book |
WDK I always wanted to get my Ph.D. I thought I would have it by age 25 after getting my bachelors and masters young, but I got married and had kids instead. My kids are grown now, so it goes through my mind all the time that I should go back to school. Having been teaching college since 1996, I imagine that having been on the other side of the table would be an advantage. It’s really a question of money, not time or desire.
AW Famous authors, such as Roald Dahl and Dylan Thomas, had a special space for writing. Do you have a writing ‘shed’ of your own?
WDK I have an office that I share with my wife, Alison. Of course, I have a laptop, so I can write anywhere at any time (which I do). My wife and I have discussed building a little something in the yard for me to write in but decided against it. She didn’t say it, but I think she was afraid that she would never see me again if I had a writing shed.
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| A young author at work! |
WDK My 8-year-old self was already in love with science fiction, thanks in large part to Star Wars, Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica. Around that time, I read The Hobbit for the first time and had already read every book about mythology of the world in the library at my elementary school. He would probably look at my personal library and think, “Wow … cool!” He might be surprised that Kilpack Comics is not a household name but would love that I own swords and I still tell my stories. He would love that I played Dungeons and Dragons and Marvel Super Heroes RPGs with my kids. When I was 8, science fiction and especially fantasy were not popular; people actually made fun of me for loving that stuff. So, when he saw that I’m still loving fantasy and science fiction, I would probably get a response from him like, “I knew it! I knew I wouldn’t change what I love for anybody!”
Although Biraaldi bloodlines show their Firstborn heritage more clearly than even in Maarihk itself, the two nations have never enjoyed peace. It has been far worse since the rise of Brandt the Usurper to Maarihk's throne. Natharr and Ellis must navigate threats not only against the Firstborn, but the Maarihkish, as they seek out the sympathizers he Saw who are brave enough to resist Maarihk's tyranny. Only then can the damage be repaired from when Natharr chose personal happiness with Darshelle and the young crown prince over his weighty responsibilities as Guardian of Maarihk.
about the author… Bill is an award-winning and critically acclaimed internationally published writer, with works appearing in print, online, radio and television, starting with his first publication credit at the age of nine, when he wrote an award-winning poem. As an adult, he received special recognition from L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. He has been editor and/or publisher of nineteen news and literary publications, both online and in print, with circulations as high as 770,000. He is an accomplished cook and has two claims he thinks few can match: cooking nearly every type of food on a grill; and nearly being knocked flat when his grill exploded.
He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Westminster College of Salt Lake City. As an undergrad, he double-majored in communication and philosophy, while completing the Honors Program. As a graduate student, he earned a master of professional communication with a writing emphasis. He was also a high-performing athlete, qualifying for international competition in Greco-Roman wrestling.
He is a communication professor and a nationally recognized wrestling coach. He is happily married to his high-school sweetheart and is father to five children, as well as helping to raise five step-children. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he continues to live, coach and teach.
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